Gov. Peter Shumlin at a news conference Wednesday. Credit: Terri Hallenbeck

Updated at 6:11 p.m.

Gov. Peter Shumlin said Wednesday he’s likely to sign a bill that would remove the philosophical exemption allowing parents to opt out of vaccinating their children.


Shumlin, who has long argued against removing the exemption, said at a press conference, “I’m inclined to sign it.”

He conceded Wednesday that Vermont’s relatively low vaccination rate is not improving. “I’m sympathetic to the notion that we’ve got to move more quickly,” he said.

The measure passed the House on Tuesday by an 85-57 vote after a long debate in which many members said they were torn between wanting to prevent disease and supporting parental rights. Parents would still be able to opt out for religious or medical reasons.

The Senate took a similar vote to remove the philosophical exemption last month and is expected to agree to changes the House made, which include delaying its implementation until July 2016.

Rep. Anne Donahue and Rep. Paul Dame Credit: Terri Hallenbeck

Wednesday afternoon, the House fended off an unusual effort to reconsider the previous day’s vote. But even many of those who voted to keep the exemption Tuesday had no appetite for continuing the debate Wednesday.

By a 114-28 vote, House members defeated a motion by Rep. Anne Donahue to reconsider a vote on a portion of the bill. Donahue hoped to add a provision allowing those who have already been granted a philosophical exemption to retain it for four years.

Rep. Paul Dame (R-Essex Junction) worked with Donahue on the effort. He said supporters of the philosophical exemption had hoped to reconsider a different amendment offered Tuesday, which lost by just two votes, but they could not find anyone willing to make such a motion. Only those who voted on the prevailing side of a matter are permitted to make a motion to reconsider.

“Nobody wanted to be the person to stand up and basically be the person blamed by the entire medical community for keeping a version of the exemption,” Dame said afterward.

Some argued Wednesday’s wasn’t the sort of situation that warranted reconsideration.

Such motions should be reserved for instances in which new information comes to light or a flaw is found in the wording of a bill, said Rep. Tom Stevens (D-Waterbury). “Were there any flaws in the language?” he asked. “Were we misled at all?”

“It’s time to move on,” argued Rep. Paul Poirier (I-Barre). The majority agreed.

Vote reconsiderations are unusual. “I don’t remember the last one,” said Rep. David Deen (D-Westminster), who follows procedural issues closely.

In fact, there was one just last year, said assistant House clerk Bill Magill, but it wasn’t very memorable. In January 2014, the chamber agreed by a voice vote to reconsider an education bill in order to fix a drafting error.

Terri Hallenbeck was a Seven Days staff writer covering politics, the Legislature and state issues from 2014 to 2017.

17 replies on “Shumlin Expects to Sign Vaccination Bill”

  2. Anyone at SevenDays want to tell me why my two comments were censored/removed? I just checked the commenting guidlines again, neither comment was in violation of any of them.

  3. “i don’t get this. How are those vaccinated threatened by those not vaccinated?”

    Why, oh why, do keep repeating this question? It’s been answered 10,000 times. The answer is simple: 1) because some children can’t get vaccinated for medical reasons; and 2) because some people who do get vaccinated don’t become immunized. Therefore, they are vulnerable. Therefore, your refusal to get vaccinated threatens the health of some people who DO get vaccinated.

  5. As my son who has special needs including extreme allergies to most additives and medications has been advised by two specialists to not have vaccinations, still could not get a medical exemption with this new house passed bill. After 3 years of trying and each year ending up taking the philosophical exemption. We will do the same this fall. And with his IEP requiring in school support, he will continue in school if we have to fight for it. With 50% of schools in mid winter considered germ carries of the common cold, there is no excuse for immune compromised folks attending the public school. I worked with cases, years ago wearing a mask and gloves in home visits and the state of VT gives home based support for these children.

  7. So, barely-governor Shumin will sign this bill. Unless he changes his mind.

    Good. I’m getting tired of time after time having to bend over backwards to assuage a flaky few at the expense of the rest of our society. stellaquarta is correct; There are options. Don’t like those options? Too bad! Your dislike does not trump the rights of all of those who would be so badly hurt in the event of an outbreak. Open your eyes, measles are making a comeback! Yay you!

    Medical exemptions? Totally fine, the right thing to do, and that’s between you, your doctor, and nobody else..

    Relying on the “herd effect” to keep your child safe because of your “philosophy”? You disgust me.

  8. Politics do not belong in our health decisions. Most politicians are not savvy enough to dig beyond what is in front of them.
    There is certainly more at stake here than exemptions. Our rights are being violated. We are responsible for our own health. No one else!!!! http://drtenpenny.com/#

  10. Good news. If parents are truly concerned about vaccines potentially harming their children or being unnecessary, those parents may choose to home school. Vaccination isn’t a government mandate; rather, it’s something that policymakers and scientists alike have decided is necessary in order to promote the greater good.

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